CA high schools give students color-coded IDs based on test scores.

[madfloridian]

According to this article nearly all the privileges they have at school are based on these IDs based on test scores. A professor is alarmed, state officials call it illegal. However the schools are saying it works.

From the OC Register:

Principal defends color-coded IDs; expert 'horrified'


Kennedy High sophomore Samantha Lopp holds two of the school-issued planners. At left is the white and at right is the gold. The planners come in one of three colors based on a student's performance on the California Standards Tests.
CHRISTINE COTTER, FOR ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

The criteria for the 3 color coded IDs.

Color-coding criteria

At the beginning of the school year, Kennedy and Cypress high school students received one of three color-coded ID cards, based on performance on the California Standards Tests. Student scores on these exams fall into one of five categories – advanced, proficient, basic, below basic and far below basic.

Black/platinum cards: Students must score "advanced" in all subject areas tested.

Gold cards: Students must score "proficient" or "advanced" in all subject areas tested. Students with a white card who improve their scores in at least two subject areas by at least one level (i.e. moving from "far below basic" to "below basic") also qualify for a gold card.

White/regular cards: Students who don't score "proficient" or above in all tested subject areas receive a white card. This category includes those who score "far below basic," "below basic" and "basic" in all subject areas. But it also can include those who score "basic" or below in just one subject area – unless they have met the improvement criteria necessary to receive a gold card.

Here are the 3 ID cards with personal info edited out.


Students at Kennedy High School in La Palma are issued one of three color-coded ID cards -- white, gold and black. (Names and photos have been whited out to protect privacy.)
IMAGE COURTESY OF CAROL LOPP, TEXT BY SCOTT MARTINDALE

Here is another article about the ID cards.

Student IDs that reveal test scores deemed illegal

LA PALMA – State education officials say an Orange County high school that issued color-coded identification cards to students this year based on their standardized test scores is violating the students' privacy and the unlawful practice should be curtailed.

Kennedy High School in La Palma is requiring students to carry school ID cards in one of three colors based on their performance on the California Standards Tests – black, gold or white – plus a spiral-bound homework planner with a cover of a matching color. The black card, which is the highest level, and the gold card give students a range of special campus privileges and discounts, while the white card gives students no privileges and forces them to stand in a separate cafeteria lunch line.

Kennedy parents and students say the cards and planners unnecessarily embarrass and single out students who did not perform as well as their peers on state standardized testing, while the California Department of Education characterizes the practice as "inappropriate" and a violation of state law.

"We understand they're trying their best to encourage the kids to perform, but they're not supposed to identify them based on color-coding," said department spokeswoman Tina Woo Jung. "It's clear – when you see a white card, that inadvertently identifies a student as low-performing. We really urge them to find another way."

Another way to use test scores as all-encompassing. What a mistake this is.

[sakabatou]

1. What a way to publicly embarrass students.

[madfloridian]

2. It really is.

We would never have done that when I was teaching not that long ago. Times have changed.

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[elehhhhna]

69. segregation AND a caste system! who runs that school? the BFEE?

[Sportsguy]

86. Yes

I would ask, "What's next?", but I won't.

[Starry Messenger]

3. WTF?

That's just all kinds of wrong. Not just the color-coded cards but all of the segregated privileges too. x( What a disastrous and horrible thing to train young adults with. That is totally illegal.

[Cid_B]

25. I love this...

Motivation and incentives... Awesome...

I hope the program stands and expands...

[PA Democrat]

26. What is "awesome" about discriminating against students with learning disabilities?

I have 2 children. Under this program, my oldest child would have gotten the black card, the youngest the white card even though she put far more time into her schoolwork. What purpose does it serve to humiliate children who were not as blessed genetically?

[Cid_B]

27. While I don't know about your specific case...

As a whole I think the idea of rewarding children who do well is great...

Not everything comes down to genetics and not everything is going to be fair either. The sooner kids realize it and learn to adapt the better off they will be.

[polly7]

32. Rewarding students is fine. Demeaning those who aren't doing as

well for possibly many reasons, is sick, and sad. I hope they've got a good suicide-prevention program in place.

[Cid_B]

37. By that logic you can't reward...

... because it makes the ones who didn't achieve the same thing "feel bad"

Fuck that... Are we really to the point where we can't give someone a privilege or a reward for a job well done because the people who failed may have their feelings hurt? It's ridiculous...

[polly7]

38. Baloney. That's like saying an athlete would give up and stop training

because he or she wasn't ranked in the top three, receiving medals. Or, that anyone working ..... or breathing, would 'feel bad' because they aren't all 'yet' they'd dreamt of being. Teachers have given out little gold stars for elementary children for decades ...... rewarding for doing well isn't something new.

Your argument fails.

[Cid_B]

43. Except that it doesn't...

An athlete is the perfect example. The player who works the hardest, scores the most points, gets the most sacks etc.. etc.. gets the most privileges. Only one person can be number one but you can always try to be better than the people around you and to constantly improve.

This is a step up from gold stars as there appears to be a tangible benefit to reward success as opposed to a symbolic gesture. Show students that their success will garner them increased status and make their lives better... then we'll see an improvement over this crap touchy feely bullshit that seems to be going on.

I might also add that there is an incentive for the poorly performing students to do better. Don't want to carry your big notebook o' stupid? Then better study some more for that final.

Love everything about it...

[polly7]

44. Exactly, and just what I stated. People strive to do their best and improve.

knowing there are rewards at the end of the journey and along the way, the better they do. Having to haul around a big old sign saying 'I'm less', is hardly beneficial, is it? Who does this benefit? Not the athlete, who already knows they have work to do, not the child, who may be brilliant but come from a broken, troubled home or that has to work after school, whatever .... there are many reasons kids may not live up to their full potential. Being labelled 'stupid' certainly doesn't benefit them?, but, it may push them over the edge.

Cruelty for the sake of being cruel. It helps absolutely no-one.

Being rewarded is something to look forward to ..... being punished for not getting there yet, is beyond stupid.

[madfloridian]

81. Ah, so you subscribe to the one test is God theory.

Now I get it.

You probably just don't know that an honor student can fail the one high stakes test and be considered a failure.

It has happened often under the one test regime under Arne Duncan. Here is a FL example from 2010:

Florida honor students can't graduate because of one test. FCAT determines it all.

[chervilant]

101. Then,

I hope you don't have children AND that you are not allowed within a hundred feet of ANY educational facility.

Ick, ick, ick, ick, ick!

[EdMaven]

139. Is it part of athletic training to make the "worst-performing" athletes wear an identifier

throughout the school day?


That kind of treatment is more liable to make them quit sports.

[elehhhhna]

74. so were there a law that we must display our credit score on our person

you wouldn't object, right?

[WinkyDink]

156. I hope you aren't in education.

[B Calm]

47. I agree with polly

[PA Democrat]

49. You think that a child with disabilities hasn't already learned that

"not everything is going to be fair?" Really? They need to be further humiliated, with the help of clueless adults?

How should my child with autism "adapt?" There were students in her high school who already called her every cruel name under the sun. She should be given a different color card and student planner to help the bullies locate a good target and that is fine by you?





:puke:

[Cid_B]

51. I don't think the entire system should be changed to benefit the very small minority...

I realize that in today's society every child seems to have some sort of disability and the corollary drug to "fix it" but in reality they make up a small percentage of the student population.

I think this can benefit the other 99% of the students so it's worth doing. If your child isn't capable of interacting at the same levels of the other students then they should probably be in a special ed class that can be exempt if you like.

Benefits for the ones who succeed..

Incentive to do better for those who aren't performing...

Case by case for students with severe disabilities...

[PA Democrat]

54. "Benefit the very small minority."

BENEFIT? You really don't have a clue.

Kids who have the combination of intelligence and good work habits are already rewarded. They get good grades, they make honor roll, they graduate with honors, they get scholarships and get accepted into good colleges. That's the experience my oldest child had and I know that he would have a real problem with a system that discriminated against his sister with autism.

And where do you think those "special ed" classes are? Most kids with disabilities attend their neighborhood schools and are at least partially mainstreamed. They still eat lunch in the same cafeteria, they still want to attend school dances and sporting events.

[elehhhhna]

75. like prison. or an orwellian opus.

kewl

[CreekDog]

79. Republican talking point

nice strawman. :wtf:

[chervilant]

103. OMG!!!

Go to ignore; go directly to ignore. Do not pass Go; do not collect $200...

[EdMaven]

141. Actually you are advocating just that. "Top performers" = (by the very nature of the

category) a small minority.

You are advocating a system in which the "top performers" and the "worst performers" and the "middle class" wear identifying markers everywhere they go on the school grounds, so that students & faculty can identify everyone immediately by that badge.

This is a huge change in the entire system and it benefits no one with the possible exception of the "top performers".

[Cid_B]

159. Not true....

It likely could motivate a few low to average performers to do better so they can reach the upper level...

[EdMaven]

161. They're standardized tests. If everyone somehow got high marks, they renorm them

to return to what the makers consider a "normal" distribution of scores.

The purpose *is* to segregate.

[WinkyDink]

157. Okay, you've outed yourself. Have fun voting for Herman Cain. (Good name, wot?)

[CreekDog]

78. We'll put you in charge of talking down to the disabled students

you can be the one who explains to them, perhaps by talking slowly, that life isn't fair.

you're really well suited for the task.

:eyes:

(do i need this :sarcasm:)

[chervilant]

100. Yes, indeed,

let's perpetuate the poisonous pedagogy that results in such classics as "My average student can beat up your honor roll student" bumper stickers.

Children know when they're being disrespected by well-intentioned adults supporting half-baked ideas...

[Marnie]

137. Good students are rewarded with good grades and a chance to

get the best post public school education and jobs.

You want more than that?

Slaves maybe.

[JDPriestly]

117. It is done in sports and life all the time.

[EdMaven]

142. Athletes wear badges that identify their ability ranking everywhere they go?

Who knew?

[elehhhhna]

72. shame and punishment

b/c today's teens don't' have enough self esteem problems.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

96. Oh. You. No surprise.

I had to check back on the thread to see which "handful" of DUers would be defending cheer-leading this policy.

Fightin' that battle of ideas.

[OwnedByFerrets]

106. Your thoughts on this are idiotic....and republican.

Dont like that, too damn bad.

[rpannier]

107. Except

State education officials say an Orange County high school that issued color-coded identification cards to students this year based on their standardized test scores is violating the students' privacy...

It's quite possibly illegal

[Cid_B]

152. Maybe illegal... still a good idea...

[sulphurdunn]

134. Be careful what you wish for Cid.

Big Brother may expand this program to cover you. You might not like the color of the card you have to carry. :smoke:

[WinkyDink]

155. Are you joking?? Have you ever seen one of those standardized tests? I have, in PA. IT IS A FARCE.

I speak from complete knowledge.

[LWolf]

88. +1

[JDPriestly]

116. Which is more wrong?

Segregating people into neighborhoods according to their incomes (how much they can pay for rent/housing) and ending up with school systems in which the children of the poor go to school only with the children of others who are poor or segregating children within a school according to their test scores. Better students have always been singled out. The National Honor Society in High School includes only students with top grades. Just belonging to that group is a special privilege.

This ID system is a bit extreme, but if you think about it, that is the way our society is organized.

Sports heroes get incredible privileges in high school. Why shouldn't better students enjoy a few?

[Starry Messenger]

118. Did you omit the sarcasm tag?

It's late and my sense of irony is worn to nub anymore. The last time I checked though, team sports in public education are voluntary. Standardized tests are not. Big diff.

And I don't think there should be any poor students in poor schools. The way our society is organized sucks on ice. Your argument is the same one used for "merit pay" for teachers, which really amounts to "failure fines" for those unlucky enough not to be in the most privileged sector of society.

[JDPriestly]

119. Team sports are voluntary, but kids have to win a place on the team.

Of the students who volunteer, only the best get on the team. And once they are on the team, they get lots of special privileges and lots of attention.

So the problem is how do you give that same attention, equivalent special privileges to students who do well academically? They need to get that encouragement while they are in high school.

Admittedly this unusual method seems a bit extreme when you first hear of it, but is it really so different from other things like beauty contests for picking the homecoming queen and homecoming king or Miss Something-or-other?

This method is not an attempt to penalize poor performing students but rather and attempt to reward and encourage students who perform well?

[Starry Messenger]

120. I teach high school.

There are no segregated lunch lines for the athletes and they are held to stringent standards both academic and behavioral. They get very little special treatment other than early release for games. I guess if the team actually does well they might get some special rewards, but when our team does badly, those students get endless shit from their non-jock peers in class actually. You might want to pick a different argument.

The rewards for *good grades* (which are still a *voluntary* achievement) is Honors classes, and a chance at college, for more learning. That was the sole reason I ever worked for higher grades.

TESTING is mandatory. As in, no choice. There is also no fair competition in the tests since they are racist, illogical, and graded by private companies who employ low-wage flunkies to "score" the tests according to statistically predetermined metrics. AWESOME. We should totally bring Jim Crow back to schools based on this.

[JDPriestly]

121. I don't like the tests. But I don't have a problem with rewarding the

best students with some recognition and advantages.

And I did well on the tests but never made the National Honor Society. I was one of those underachievers yet I think recognizing and making over those who do get the grades and the test scores is a good idea.

The tests are probably not "fair" and maybe should not be the only measure of the merit that earns the recognition, but making over the better students who often are disadvantaged in terms of social status in their classes is an excellent idea. It would protect the nerds from the needling they sometimes get from their classmates.

[Starry Messenger]

122. You are failing to make the distinction between grades and standardized testing.

We can't get anywhere in this conversation until you recognize the fact that the example you keep holding up-NHS-is absolutely not related to standardized tests in the slightest.

Edit to add: someone might objectively do very poorly on a standardized test, but still get a "great" grade because of incompetent scoring of a deeply flawed testing scheme. I don't think that deserves special lunch lines.

And if you read the links that madfloridian supplied, you will read that the "gold and black card holders" were actively using prejudiced behavior against the non-elite, a very disturbing pattern in a NON-VOLUNTARY system.

"Separate cafeteria lines

The reminders of the three-tiered system are everywhere. At the school cafeteria, Kennedy administrators have created two lines with separate entrances – one for black- and gold- card holders, and another for white-card holders. Because the school has more white-card holders, the white-card-holder line is typically longer, students say.

In addition, black- and gold-card holders are known for crowding up to the front of the white-card-holder line and pushing their way inside, without waiting in any line at all, students say.

"The cafeteria runs out of the good food, so they take all the good stuff," said freshman Nick Lindeman, 14, of La Palma, a white-card holder who buys lunch in the cafeteria daily. "I feel like I'm being bullied because they're rubbing it in our faces that they're better than us, and the school isn't doing anything to stop it."

On a recent day, the line was unusually long, and so many students were cutting that Lindeman gave up and didn't eat, he said."

AWESOME.

[EdMaven]

144. That is absolutely SICK. It brought tears to my eyes.

In addition, black- and gold-card holders are known for crowding up to the front of the white-card-holder line and pushing their way inside, without waiting in any line at all, students say.

"The cafeteria runs out of the good food, so they take all the good stuff," said freshman Nick Lindeman, 14, of La Palma, a white-card holder who buys lunch in the cafeteria daily. "I feel like I'm being bullied because they're rubbing it in our faces that they're better than us, and the school isn't doing anything to stop it."

[EdMaven]

143. Having everyone use different colored notebooks & id cards while

they are on campus is primarily a way to shame low-performers rather than a way to reward high-performers.

If it were me I'd be more inclined to quit trying. I don't react well to public humiliation. I don't think most people do.

[Dawson Leery]

4. There is a lawsuit here.

[struggle4progress]

13. +

[Doremus]

48. A winnable one.

A very good lesson this caste system teaches.

One day the untouchable students will own their school district. :thumbsup:

[Drahthaardogs]

87. This is NOT even remotely equivalent to a caste system

and people should stop saying that it is. You are BORN into a caste system, and no one ever moves out of it. Assuming you are of average intelligence, you could, theoretically at least, move up or down depending upon the level of effort you put into your studies.

It is a pretty stupid to do this publicly (although I would support extended privileges for excelling students if it were kept private), but a caste system this is not.

[xmas74]

114. But in most schools students who excel are given privileges.

At my old high school and my kid's middle school, grades are used to determine whether or not a child can participate in a number of clubs and activities. Those who "make the grade" are allowed to audition for the school musical, run for offices, ride the bus for out of town activities.

There is no reason to publicly announce the grades and that is exactly what has happened in this case.

[Drahthaardogs]

125. Did I say that?

Where did I say I thought public announcment of a child's score on an aptitude test was a good thing? I agree the public announcement thing is in poor taste, and most likely illegal.

Where I disagree is with all of the people who are crying that rewarding good student's or student's who work hard to improve their scores is unfair. Is it unfair that only a good athelete can earn a letter jacket? What is wrong with granting extra privelege to those who excel academically. While joining the musical is nice if you have good grades, the whole premise of that line of thinking is that students whose grades are too poor do not have time for extra curricular activities, it has nothing to do with rewarding good performance. I would fully support off campus lunches, late starts, etc. for students doing great academically. Why not? Sweeten the deal and see if it motivates the kids to perform better. I fail to see how offering a carrot is a bad thing.

[xmas74]

126. You spoke of extending privileges.

I stated that they are already extended for good grades. I had many more activities I could participate in when my grades were on par. In other words, that's already offered out there.

[Drahthaardogs]

127. They shoulod do more.

Being able to participate in sports and choir is nice, but why not things like off-campus lunches, etc. Make getting good grades enticing.

[xmas74]

135. Most schools offer less than a half hour for lunch.

An off-campus lunch is asking for tardies.

For some, good grades are enticing. For others, the opportunity to play in a sport or audition for the school play is all that is needed. Setting a certain GPA to obtain should be enticement enough.

Besides, the OP's article had nothing to do with grades. It's actually about standardized testing, which is a whole 'nother beast. You can have a 4.0 but do poorly on the test and be penalized. OTOH, you can have rotten grades, do well on the test and reap all the rewards.

[Joe Bacon]

5. The bottom line is that corporations want to demoralize kids

And what better way than the install a caste system in schools? GIve a kid a "C" card for a whole year, and just guess what will happen when they drop out? Administrators will get a pat on the back for weeding out the weak!

[madfloridian]

7. Good point.

It is demoralizing. Doing the same thing to kids they are doing to teachers...treating many in a negative fashion. It is deliberate.

[Feron]

110. The phrase you are looking for is...

self-fulfilling prophecy.

And I agree.

[RaleighNCDUer]

6. I'm reminded of The Wave.

Why not issue them gold stars and pink triangles?

[tblue]

8. Wow. Black is good and white is bad.

That is a first. Anyway, I think it's a dumb way to treat kids. Do they really want to instill stratification and inferiority complexes? Horrible. If it was my kids school, they'd hear from me.

[elehhhhna]

76. the black and gold as status indicators coincidentally represent classes of credit card

gold = good

black = better

pretty sinister, imo.

[Solly Mack]

9. K&R

[EFerrari]

10. This guy should be matching paint chips at HomeDepot

not setting policy for teenagers. What an idiot.

[DocMac]

11. Another reason to bully these young people!

!%$#%#%&%$^%&*(*()(*

[MADem]

12. Hmmm. I wonder, is this an inclusive school, that has mentally handicapped students mainstreamed

into the student body? They're never going to get a black/platinum card, are they, and they'll never get free admission to the basketball game, or a discount ticket to the dance, will they? This just seems like an awful concept:

Black cards give students free admission to all home athletic events, as well as discounts to school dances and at local businesses. Gold-card holders get free admission to certain home athletic games, as well as more limited discounts. White cards require students to stand in a separate cafeteria lunch line and come with no benefits.


:wtf:

[Obamanaut]

15. California. nt

[Name removed]

16. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Obamanaut]

24. Oh dear. Is the 'sensitive' setting a bit low? One word subject lines (the state name)

are acceptable here when something strange/bizarre/odd/weird happens in other states, but not this one?

Weird/strange/bizarre/odd stuff happens everywhere - there is no geographic boundary. It is everywhere. That was the point.

[LeftyMom]

18. Orange County's practically another planet. nt

[Iggo]

123. .

:hi:

[Scottybeamer70]

17. We don't want the kids to bully, but

guess it's all right if the administration does it.
sick.........sick..........sick

[KansDem]

19. What happened? Did the school misplace its stocks?

[callous taoboy]

20. Highly illegal. My principal told us not to even put star charts

up in our classrooms if those stars indicate academic performance. That information is private.

[madfloridian]

104. That is correct.

We could use stars, charts, etc. for behavior, completing homework, and other things not related to academics.

[chillspike]

21. Lol... So dumb...

[WonderGrunion]

22. Oh great. One more things for bullies to beat up nerds to take from them.

*Smack* *Smack* Give me your lunch money, your new sneakers and your Black Card.

[hunter]

53. I had the second highest test scores in my high school...

... when I quit to escape the bullying.

Quitting high school for junior college was one of the smartest things I ever did.

There is so much wrong with our high schools it's tough to know where to begin.

I think the doors to college always ought to be open to anyone, and likewise kids who are not thriving in high school ought to be able to leave to pursue other educational opportunities -- things like trade apprenticeships, civilian conservation corps, business internships, elder and child care, etc.

High school age ought to be a time of exploration. Kids fail in the current system because they are confined within a very narrow channel of artificial high friction conformity.

[no_hypocrisy]

23. Reminds me of the brown eyes/blue eyes experiment in 1968 by

Jane Elliot where she divided a class by eye color and the children started discriminating against those not in their group.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/divided/

[madfloridian]

85. I remember that experiment.....very telling. Found the transcript.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/divided/etc/script.html

"JANE ELLIOTT: Blue-eyed people are smarter than brown-eyed people. They are cleaner than brown-eyed people. They are more civilized than brown-eyed people.

JOHN: Russell called me names and I hit him...

JANE ELLIOTT: What did he call you?

JOHN: Brown eyes.

NARRATOR: Tonight on FRONTLINE...the story of one teacher...her lesson...and what happened to A CLASS DIVIDED.

Read more: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/divided/etc/script.html#ixzz1aDKpCEjh

Thanks for the reminder. :hi:

[EdMaven]

153. that's what immediately thought of too

[rurallib]

28. If I was a student, I would try to figure out how to color my ID red or green or purple

or whatever other color that is not one of their approved colors.
Then I think I would see a lawyer.

[saras]

98. That works. Me, I'd just make black IDs for everybody.

[woo me with science]

29. Well, isn't that nice. Now you ARE your test score.

If kids weren't throwing up with anxiety before tests before, this should help.

[FarCenter]

31. Redundant -- the kids already know who's smart and who's stupid

[woo me with science]

33. And how nice to be put in the "stupid" category

and have a planner and ID assigned to you for an entire year. That sure encourages you to work hard, doesn't it?

[JVS]

77. But without the program being smart only opens you up to bullying, not privileges

[Odin2005]

30. Now the are helping the bullies. FUCKING ASSHOLES!!!

This shit is going to cause long term psychological damage.

[L. Coyote]

34. This is plainly illegal. It is as if a teacher posts grades publically!

[slackmaster]

40. Results from the California Standard Tests are not grades, but you are probably correct

The results are available to the public in summary form only. You can drill down to, for example, students at one specific school who belong to one gender and a specific ethnic group, but not to the individual student level.

http://star.cde.ca.gov/star2008/Viewreport.asp

[Posteritatis]

50. That's kind of splitting hairs, isn't it? (nt)

[slackmaster]

132. Not really

It's beating a dead horse.

[JVS]

82. You can get around such rules.

When I was in high school and college there was honor roll and high honor roll and deans list. Technically, you had to give them permission to put your name on either of those. Thus while the schools were forbidden to release grades. Students could examine the honor roll or high honor roll to see if anyone was conspicuous by their absence or their motion between them. Of course, they might be wrong in their assumption because the name appears nowhere due to lack of permission.

They could set up the system so that white is the default ID, and the other IDs are purely optional to those who qualify. Qualifying would imply your level of scoring, but one can't say that having a white ID reveals anything.

[EdMaven]

145. Honor roll is students who make high GPA: usually 3.0, 3.5. 4.0.

But it doesn't ID who makes average or low grades. You're not really "conspicuous" by *not* being on honor roll. You're just part of the majority.

OTOH, Forcing students to use color-coded notebooks & IDs does conspicuously create a three-tiered status hierarchy readily identifiable to anyone.

That is sick.

[JVS]

158. That depends on how you're tracking. I took the top level courses, mostly AP by my junior year.

The year before that, it was still the "project" classes, which were the ones you have to take to get recommended for AP the next year. Other than gym, all my classes occurred within a strata of students who were used to getting well above 3.0 and a slip below 3.5 would have been conspicuous in this subculture. It was like a magnate program within a regular school, because the school served the entire suburb but wanted to offer education to the best students that was equal to that of the city's magnet program. My friends in the magnet programs described a similarly competitive environment where failure to make such a list would be noticed.

[EdMaven]

160. In the subculture of high achievers, as you say. Fact remains, it's a subculture. Not the majority.

Different from the instance in the OP in which every student in the school is made to carry identifiable badges of their position in a hierarchy of test scores. Not even grades -- scores on state tests.

That is fascist nutballism.

And cruel to the extreme, as fascist nutballism typically is.

[DefenseLawyer]

35. Have they considered making them wear colored patches on their clothes? n/a

[EdMaven]

146. Stars are a nice shape & the symbolism fits.

[blueamy66]

36. I'm torn

I worked my ass off for my good grades. I tutored others and taught them test skills.

If a kid has great grades, more power to them.

But if there are learning disabled kids involved, that sux.

Need more info...

[DefenseLawyer]

39. Why did you work hard for good grades?

Was it so you could learn and prepare yourself for higher education and for a productive life, or was it so you could carry around the notebook of honor?

[blueamy66]

55. Actually, so that I could make my parents proud and get a

scholarship so my Dad didn't have to work 2 jobs anymore to send me to college after Catholic school.

I also played basketballl and was offered an athletic scholarship....but took the academic one instead.

oh, and I was adopted, so I started out in last place, per some of the posters on this board

[DefenseLawyer]

58. And I'm guessing you didn't go around telling people with lower test scores how stupid they were.

oh, and you made my point, by the way, thanks.

[blueamy66]

63. whatever

I don't get your point

I liked graduating second in my class....my parents were beaming.....I never cared how the other kids did in their classes....

People are too uptight these days,,,,,with their little darlings

[lumberjack_jeff]

91. Why does anyone do anything?

Academic achievement in modern education really doesn't fulfill any of a teenager's immediate needs.

[madfloridian]

45. No, you do not need more info.

The fact that you even THINK you need more info speaks much of our society now.

[blueamy66]

56. why?

If there aren't special needs kids in the school.....

[Starry Messenger]

59. There are always special needs kids in the public schools.

That's where they go to school. And besides that, there are plenty of other reasons why this is a terrible fucking idea. Kids don't make high scores on tests for tons of other reasons...language barriers, the cultural bias of the tests themselves, a bad year with a dying parent or some other personal family reason. This list goes on and on. Making this group punishable with inferior status just underscores how shitty our sociopathic social system is. x(

[blueamy66]

64. I understand what you're saying.....

that's why I stated that I was torn on the issue

[PA Democrat]

60. There are special needs students in every school. Inclusion is the LAW.

There are also students who have unidentified learning disabilities and students who are on the lower end of average intelligence who won't score "advanced" in every subject area no matter how hard they work.

[blueamy66]

65. I understand.

As a grad of a Catholic high school, I never saw a special needs child.

I give up on this issue.....

[madfloridian]

84. "As a grad of a Catholic high school, I never saw a special needs child."

Well, that explains a lot.

[Name removed]

97. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[EdMaven]

147. Because Catholic schools didn't use to be funded by federal dollars & didn't have to

accept children with disabilities. Or anyone else they didn't want to.

Public schools do. And they have to give them an equal education.

Do you think that because you never saw any in your private HS they don't exist?

[madfloridian]

151. Good post. Now many get public money as charter schools.

Yet I hear many are still getting away with not taking problem kids, just like other charters.

We kept and cared about every single child in public schools.

I can tell the reformer propaganda has worked all too well. Thanks for your post.

[blueamy66]

67. not in my Catholic school

nt

[EdMaven]

148. Your Catholic school was a PRIVATE school. As such it's irrelevant to this discussion.

[lumberjack_jeff]

95. For every kid who has a legitimate learning disability

... there are four who have no motivation to do their best.

My autistic son is a much better student than I was because I was one of the slackers.

[LWolf]

90. There are many ways to recognize achievement

that do not set up caste systems or put down those who don't achieve as highly for any reason.

The worst part? The a society that favors the idea that people somehow have the right to extrinsic "rewards," instead of recognizing the value of intrinsic motivation and success.

Under this system, we could decide, tomorrow, that the athletic, no matter how intellectually challenged, got the best "color" and privileges; or the male, or the white, or the straight, or the wealthy...oh. We've already done all of that.

[xmas74]

115. It's not even based on grades.

It's based on test scores. There are some kids on the high honor rolls who bomb the standardized tests every single time. And there are kids who do exactly the opposite.


There's a scholarship available in my state. In order to qualify you must have a certain GPA, recommendations, and a certain SAT/ACT score. 20 years ago the only qualification was the ACT score. What does this have to do with the OP? They had to change the way the scholarship was given because of students who did nothing but had great test scores. A classmate (and former friend) received C's and D's in all his classes but had a combined ACT score of 34. He received Bright Flight even though he barely made it into a community college.

We both know that there will be similar instances of this happening. Some kids are good at tests but lazy in class while others work in class but flinch at test time. Still others have bad days and bomb the test. For that they will be penalized.

In the end, it's not about benefiting the student. What this is really about is bribing students to do well on the test only, taking this whole thing back to the NCLB laws.

I'd rather see the rewards for hard work and not for test taking.:)

[DebJ]

41. The net impact of this could well be that students carrying the

lower-tier cards will become 'proud' of their lower status and seek to embarrass those who have higher status cards. This sword cuts two ways. I have seen many students (in an inner-city school) who try to hide their academic successes from their friends for fear of losing them. (I must add that the main difference in performance level is those who try succeed, those who don't try, don't want anyone else to do so either.)

[FarCenter]

42. My recollection is that the "gold card" kids bullied both the top and the bottom

It was the average jock guys and the social cliques of girls who were the worst.

There was often a certain solidarity between kids at the top and bottom of the class.

[radhika]

46. The color hierarchy of American Express..

I remember as new working serf, how thrilled I was when AE surprised me by issuing a Gold Card! I remember how alert we yuppies of the 80s were to who had a Platinum, who had Black (woo-ee).

green - lowest (note the edge on the white ID)
gold - higher
black/platinum - highest

[EdMaven]

149. wow. that is orwellian -- it can't be by chance that they adopted the same colors.

This is really starting to creep me out, seriously.

Not too many steps from here to a life-long caste system along the lines of Brave New World.

Alpha, Beta... Epsilon.

[madfloridian]

52. "privileges that are of a public nature, such as faster lunch lines, will no longer be in place."

From Anthony Cody at Education Week:

"UPDATE: The Orange County Register this morning reported that the Anaheim Union High School District has discontinued the most controversial aspects of this program. The District released a statement which reads, in part:

Students will no longer carry color-coded binders. Cypress High School and Kennedy High School will provide uniform binders and uniform school ID cards for all students, at no cost to them. ... The privileges that are of a public nature, such as faster lunch lines, will no longer be in place.

They plan to create a new, apparently less public, incentive system."

http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/living-in-dialogue/2011/10/color_coded_high_school_id_car.html


But it sounds like it will still make test scores most important.

[CreekDog]

80. some posters here will be disappointed by these changes

:eyes:

[madfloridian]

83. Often this forum is not teacher friendly nor student friendly..

That has really surprised me. There seems to be a lack of understanding of how kids learn, and the harm that can be done to them early in life with such misguided "competition" in education.

And there is a distinct lack of respect for teachers.

[CreekDog]

92. the poster that you and others are arguing with doesn't think we should do anything about bullying

sad, but it does put the statements here in context, doesn't it?

[Posteritatis]

Suggests they'll try subtler methods of segregating the students instead. (nt)

[varelse]

57. At my high school, the black card kids would have been bullied

[JBoy]

61. This is wrong in so many ways. That Principal needs another job.

[BiggJawn]

62. Do they pay a licensing fee to Norte Dame University?

I believe the name "Fighting Irish" and the leprechaun logo are trade marks.

The colour-coded ID's and planners blow chunks, too.

[DefenseLawyer]

68. The cease and desist letter is on its way from South Bend n/t

[JVS]

71. I'm not sure you can trademark an ethnic stereotype

[Ikonoklast]

94. Absolutely.

Owned and copyrighted by Notre Dame.

That school will be getting a letter from Notre Dame.

[Bjorn Against]

66. If i was a parent of a child at that school I.would take their Id from them

And I would go to the school and cut it up right in front of the principle. Hopefully a couple hundred other parents would join me in refusing to allow their kids to carry an ID.

[JVS]

70. Awesome!

[GliderGuider]

73. I like being a Delta.

I wouldn't want to be an Alpha or a Beta. They have too much responsibility...

[lumberjack_jeff]

89. What an outrage! Oh, btw, here's your letterman's jacket, sweetie. I'm so proud of you!

School is all about social stratification. Embrace the madness, harness the douchebaggery in the service of academic performance.

[1monster]

93. Time for someone in school to make a killing by making and selling ID and Planner

covers. Make them so attractive that everyone wants to have them.

Then file a class action suit against the school and the School Board. I believe it is against the law to reveal information about individual grades to the public. At least it is in Florida.

[Liberal_in_LA]

99. this is one of the most disgusting things I've ever heard of

[David Sky]

102. As India makes energetic attempts to throw off her Cast system, the USA...

begins to implement one!

Let's see, how many High School drop-outs and college drop-outs have gone on to give us the advanced culture we enjoy today?

I can only think of the college guys right now: given the events of this past week, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates... but I'm sure some of you can come up with high school dropouts whom we now revere and praise.

Why not just throw out the poor performers in those schools? Obviously those schools are FAILING those kids, not the other way around.

[OwnedByFerrets]

105. This is fucking bad, now matter how you spin it.

Fucking assholes.

[eppur_se_muova]

108. We must not allow the Morlocks to mingle with the Eloi. nt

[jmowreader]

109. This is like basic training in the early 1980s...

The basic training company I was in had a senior drill sergeant who wanted to tell at a glance who his problem children were. So...he went to an office supply store and bought some tags with strings on them, like price tags used to be until everything was barcoded. There was a color for trainees who had medical conditions that prohibited extensive abuse, one for trainees who couldn't pass the physical training test, one for trainees who weren't qualified on rifle or grenade...for some reason I think Sergeant Simental had eight different colors of tags. On a BDU shirt there's a top button no one ever buttons, and the buttonhole for it is just perfect for displaying these tags. You got one, with the reason you had it written on it in magic marker, and had to wear it until you fixed your problem--of course, with no help from any of the drill sergeants.

One huge difference between this high school and my basic training company is, in basic we showed up knowing we were all worthless and weak; high school students shouldn't be handled that way.

[Vinnie From Indy]

111. This school can expect to be told "cease and desist" using THAT Fighting Irish logo

That logo is copyrighted by Notre Dame. I know that to be true becuase a high school here in in Indy was threatened with a lawsuit even though the high school had used the logo for decades.

[defendandprotect]

112. More "Leave No Child Behind" insanities?

[Pithlet]

113. It doesn't get any scummier. n/t

[KansDem]

124. With the advent of color copiers, scanners, & photo-editing software...

Some enterprising white-carders could make their cards black.

Then we'll see the reason measure of intelligence!

[Buns_of_Fire]

128. I remember trying out for the basketball team when I was in high school.

I was a shootin' fool, I was. I could get nothing but net from anyplace on my half of the court.

Unfortunately, I couldn't dribble worth beans. Being 5'7" obviously didn't help matters any.

So I didn't make the team. I didn't get to wear a neat jacket and have nubile young maidens fawning all over me.

But then again, I didn't have to wear a jacket that proclaimed, "I'm Too Lame to Get On the Basketball Team," either.

And so much for the sports comparisons.

[Starry Messenger]

129. + a million

[Pithlet]

131. Wish I could rec this one.

The sports comparisons are dumb.

[Blecht]

130. Clear violation of many provisions of FERPA

This will not last long.

[alp227]

133. Shaming the students is meaningless compared to HELPING them

it's like sending drug addicts or first-time petty criminals to prison instead of rehab programs and then they go commit more crimes

what's the use of this stupid ID card thing when it won't really touch on WHY students struggle with academics

[Marnie]

136. School districts usually have privacy policies covering their

students.
It helps protect them from law suits.

Holding slow students up to public ridicule is probably against those privacy rules and probably against state laws, that require state employees who deal with the public or with information concerning private citizens to keep that information private.

There is at the very least knowing defamation of character.

Let the law suits begin.

[EdMaven]

138. I was shocked to read this. It's an invitation to the kind of thing that happened

in that old film, "Blue eyes, brown eyes".

Star of David on your clothing kind of thing. An invitation for kids (& faculty) to tease, bully, & treat as "less-than" (or alternatively behave as "more-than")

How any responsible educator could sign on for it escapes me.

It's horrifying.

[Name removed]

140. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Goblinmonger]

150. How is this NOT a FERPA violation? n/t

[WinkyDink]

154. Tax-payers should demand to see the college transcripts of their school administrators.